This documentation covers various text manipulation techniques, including transforming text to numbers, concatenation, length checking, setting and breaking text, character searches, substring displays, and character code usage.
Transforming Text to Number
Parse to number
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"string_parsefloat\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"247\"><value name=\"text\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">123</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to convert a text to a number.
Parameters: String
Output: Number
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogNum\"><value name=\"num\"><block type=\"string_parsefloat\"><value name=\"text\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">123</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Concatenating the Text
Join
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"text_join\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"202\"><mutation items=\"2\"/><value name=\"ADD0\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello</field></shadow></value><value name=\"ADD1\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">World</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to set a piece of text by joining another text together.
Parameters: String
Output: String
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"text_join\"><mutation items=\"2\"/><value name=\"ADD0\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello</field></shadow></value><value name=\"ADD1\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">World</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Checking the Length of Text
Length of
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"text_length\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-23\" y=\"112\"><value name=\"VALUE\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to show the number of letters in the text.
Parameters: String
Output: Number
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogNum\"><value name=\"num\"><block type=\"text_length\"><value name=\"VALUE\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Setting Text
String
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><variables><variable>list</variable><variable>index</variable></variables><block type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"67\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></block></xml>"}
This block is used to set a letter or text inside the block.
Parameters: String
Output: String
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello</field></shadow></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Breaking Text with Separators
Split at
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"string_split\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"337\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"separator\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to break the text according to the separators.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Output: String Array
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><variables><variable>find</variable><variable>list</variable><variable>index</variable></variables><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"67\" y=\"203\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"variables_set\"><field name=\"VAR\">find</field><value name=\"VALUE\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow><block type=\"string_split\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow><block type=\"variables_get\"><field name=\"VAR\">list</field></block></value><value name=\"separator\"><block type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></block></value></block></value><next><block type=\"pxt_controls_for\"><value name=\"VAR\"><shadow type=\"variables_get_reporter\"><field name=\"VAR\">index</field></shadow></value><value name=\"TO\"><shadow type=\"math_whole_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow><block type=\"math_arithmetic\"><field name=\"OP\">MINUS</field><value name=\"A\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow><block type=\"lists_length\"><value name=\"VALUE\"><block type=\"variables_get\"><field name=\"VAR\">find</field></block></value></block></value><value name=\"B\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">1</field></shadow></value></block></value><statement name=\"DO\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"lists_index_get\"><value name=\"LIST\"><block type=\"variables_get\"><field name=\"VAR\">find</field></block></value><value name=\"INDEX\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow><block type=\"variables_get\"><field name=\"VAR\">index</field></block></value></block></value></block></statement></block></next></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Checking Whether the Text Contains Characters
Includes …
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><variables><variable>find</variable><variable>list</variable><variable>index</variable></variables><block type=\"string_includes\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"382\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"searchValue\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to check whether the text contains the characters of the text.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Output:Boolean (True/False)
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><variables><variable>text</variable></variables><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"variables_set\"><field name=\"VAR\">text</field><value name=\"VALUE\"><block type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello World</field></block></value><next><block type=\"controls_if\"><mutation else=\"1\"/><value name=\"IF0\"><shadow type=\"logic_boolean\"><field name=\"BOOL\">TRUE</field></shadow><block type=\"string_includes\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow><block type=\"variables_get\"><field name=\"VAR\">text</field></block></value><value name=\"searchValue\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">World</field></shadow></value></block></value><statement name=\"DO0\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"typescript_expression\"><field name=\"EXPRESSION\">\"World is inside the text.\"</field></block></value></block></statement><statement name=\"ELSE\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"typescript_expression\"><field name=\"EXPRESSION\">\"World is not inside the text.\"</field></block></value></block></statement></block></next></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Finding the Position of the Character
Find index of …
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><variables><variable>text</variable></variables><block type=\"string_indexof\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"427\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"searchValue\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to find the position of the first occurrence of the value in the text.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Output: Number
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogNum\"><value name=\"num\"><block type=\"string_indexof\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"searchValue\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">s</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Checking Text is Empty or Not
Is empty
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"string_isempty\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"517\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to check whether the text is empty.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Output: Boolean (True/False)
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"controls_if\"><mutation else=\"1\"/><value name=\"IF0\"><shadow type=\"logic_boolean\"><field name=\"BOOL\">TRUE</field></shadow><block type=\"string_isempty\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow></value></block></value><statement name=\"DO0\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"typescript_expression\"><field name=\"EXPRESSION\">\"There is nothing inside.\"</field></block></value></block></statement><statement name=\"ELSE\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"typescript_expression\"><field name=\"EXPRESSION\">\"There is something inside.\"</field></block></value></block></statement></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Showing Text in Substring Format
Substring of … from … to length …
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"string_substr\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"517\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"start\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow></value><value name=\"length\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"NUM\">10</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to show the substring from the selected text.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Condition: Number (Default: 0 and 10)
Output: String
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"string_substr\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow><block type=\"typescript_expression\"><field name=\"EXPRESSION\">\"Hello World\"</field></block></value><value name=\"start\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow></value><value name=\"length\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">10</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Showing the Order of Characters in Two Texts
Compare this to …
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"string_compare\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"562\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"that\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to show the order of characters in two texts is different.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Output: Number
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogNum\"><value name=\"num\"><block type=\"string_compare\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\"/></shadow><block type=\"typescript_expression\"><field name=\"EXPRESSION\">\"Hello World\"</field></block></value><value name=\"that\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">Hello</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Displaying Character at the Certain Position
Char from … at …
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"string_get\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"652\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"pos\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to show the character at the specified position.
Parameters: Screen Item/String
Output: Number
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"string_get\"><value name=\"this\"><shadow type=\"text\"><field name=\"TEXT\">this</field></shadow></value><value name=\"pos\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">3</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

Using Character Code to Show Text
Text from char code
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"stringFromCharCode\" disabled=\"true\" x=\"-22\" y=\"697\"><value name=\"code\"><shadow type=\"math_number\" disabled=\"true\"><field name=\"NUM\">0</field></shadow></value></block></xml>"}
This block is used to show the character using the ASCII code.
Parameters: Number
Output: String
Sample code:
{"blocks":"<xml xmlns=\"https://developers.google.com/blockly/xml\"><block type=\"pxt-on-start\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"><statement name=\"HANDLER\"><block type=\"basic_consoleLogText\"><value name=\"text\"><block type=\"stringFromCharCode\"><value name=\"code\"><shadow type=\"math_number\"><field name=\"NUM\">101</field></shadow></value></block></value></block></statement></block></xml>"}
The output:

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